In brief
The 35‑year‑old UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, MINURSO, is set to end on November 1 after the Security Council declined to renew its mandate. Morocco welcomed the decision, while the Polisario Front and Algeria expressed apprehension over the unresolved conflict and lack of a referendum. The termination follows a US‑drafted resolution endorsing Moroccan sovereignty with autonomy, which Russia vetoed, thwarting the mission’s extension.
The United Nations a‑day announcement on Sunday that its 35‑year‑old mission to monitor the Western Sahara ceasefire, MINURSO, would end has marked the end of a long‑running peacekeeping effort in the disputed territory. The mission’s liquidation is scheduled to begin on November 1, when its personnel and equipment are set to return to the garrison states that have contributed troops.
MINURSO was established in 1991 at the height of a UN‑brokered ceasefire between Morocco and the Algerian‑backed Polisario Front, which seeks an independent state for Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony. The force was tasked not only with verifying the ceasefire but also with organising a referendum on self‑determination, a process that has stalled over disputes about who can vote.
Earlier this year the United Nations Security Council adopted a US‑drafted resolution that accepted a plan offered by Morocco to grant the territory autonomous governance under its sovereignty. The resolution called this course the “most feasible” solution to the conflict. Russia, which had abstained in last year’s vote, vetoed a competing resolution that would have solidified the UN’s preference for Morocco’s autonomy plan while reducing the size of the peacekeeping force. Russia’s veto left the Council unable to renew MINURSO’s mandate.
UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres warned that the mission’s withdrawal would usher in a “liquidation phase” that could affect the safety of the remaining personnel. He noted that the end of the mission comes after a year of debate over the path to a resolution of the conflict.
Morocco welcomed the decision, describing the non‑renewal as a “significant development” that could help withdraw Western Sahara from the Security Council agenda. Morocco’s foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, said in state media that the mission’s reference to a referendum—his letter “R” in MINURSO’s name—was an “anachronism.” He added that Rabat had recognized Russia’s upcoming veto of the US‑drafted resolution, but that the country saw the move as an opportunity to “review certain rules of the game.”
The Polisario Front issued a statement expressing concern over the deadlock in the Security Council meeting. It said it was “concerned at the deadlock” and that the lack of a referendum left the conflict unresolved. The group has long criticised the UN for failing to organise the promised vote and for allowing Morocco to maintain control over the region.
Algeria’s foreign ministry also voiced deep regret over the non‑renewal, accusing the United States of an “excessive bias” toward Morocco’s position and warning that the decision could lead to unstable conditions in the territory. The statement underscored Algeria’s long‑standing support for the Polisario’s push for self‑determinism.
With the liquidation of MINURSO, the United Nations will no longer have a visible presence to monitor the ceasefire or to conduct any further diplomatic engagement on the territory. The decision leaves unanswered questions about who will enforce the ceasefire, how to address the unresolved status of Western Sahara, and whether any future peace mechanism will emerge. The end of the mission also marks a shift in the balance of influence over the region, as Morocco may further consolidate its claim over the territory without the moderating presence of UN troops.
